The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the opportunities and challenges associated with digital learning resources in Japan and Sweden, offering a comparative analysis of school practices and teacher education programmes. More than 100 studies were included in the review. A combination of the ENTREQ (Tong et al., 2012) and PRISMA (Moher et al., 2009) guidelines was used for the systematic review, alongside snowball searching (Wohlin, 2014). A sociocultural theoretical perspective was adopted, and a content analysis was conducted. Schools and universities in both Sweden and Japan have integrated digital resources into education for many years; however. In Japan, digital learning is developing rapidly, supported by strong national initiatives focused on improving teacher education, ensuring equitable access, and balancing digital tools with traditional pedagogies. Studies from Japan indicate AI and virtual learning environments are associated with increased student engagement, improved comprehension, and expanded educational access. Nevertheless, several challenges remain, including high implementation costs, insufficient teacher training, uneven infrastructure, and gender-related disparities, with female students reporting higher stress levels and lower engagement with educational technologies. In contrast, Swedish studies report no significant relationship between gender and teachers’ use of digital learning resources. Instead, factors such as teacher certification, professional roles, school climate, collegial support, experience, education, and individual motivation appear to play a more decisive role in shaping effective digital integration. While many Swedish educators employ digital learning resources in innovative ways, others continue to experience challenges and increased levels of stress. Further findings will be presented.

Authors:
Lena Gleisner Villasmil, Mälardalen University, Sweden

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Lena Gleisner Villasmil is a lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mälardalens University, Sweden.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-gleisner-villasmil-3673872a/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lena-Villasmil?ev=hdr_xprf

Additional website of interest
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8046-8863

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